More from Football All Scores & FixturesAll TeamsLeagues & CupsFootball HomeCardiff 2-2 Liverpool (Liverpool win 3-2 on penalties) By Chris Bevan
BBC Sport at Wembley
26 Feb 2012 From the section FootballShare this page Share this with
DiggFacebookGoogleLinkedInRedditStumbleUponTwitterCopy this link http://www.bbc.com/sport/football/17093419Read more about sharing.Kenny Dalglish won the first silverware of his second spell as Liverpool manager after his side came through a compelling Carling Cup final to beat Cardiff City on penalties.
Anthony Gerrard missed the final kick of a dramatic penalty shoot-out to hand victory to the Merseysiders - their first trophy since the 2006 FA Cup- but it was a cruel way for the Welsh side to be beaten.
Steven Gerrard (Liverpool) -missed 0-0Kenny Miller (Cardiff) - missed 0-0Charlie Adam (Liverpool) - missed 0-0Don Cowie (Cardiff) - scored 0-1Dirk Kuyt (Liverpool) - scored 1-1Rudy Gestede (Cardiff) - missed 1-1Stuart Downing (Liverpool) - scored 2-1Peter Whittingham (Cardiff) - scored 2-2Glen Johnson (Liverpool) - scored 3-2Anthony Gerrard (Cardiff) - missed 3-2The Championship outfit took a surprise first-half lead through Joe Mason and defended valiantly, even after Martin Skrtel had levelled on the hour mark.
Dirk Kuyt thought he had won it for Liverpool with an instinctive extra-time finish, but Ben Turner bundled home at the death to force penalties.
Even then, Liverpool seemed determined to do things the hard way, with Steven Gerrard - Anthony's cousin - having his effort brilliantly saved by Tom Heaton, before Charlie Adam blasted over.
After Kenny Miller hit the post, Don Cowie sent Pepe Reina the wrong way to give the Bluebirds the advantage after two spot-kicks apiece.
But, while Kuyt, Stewart Downing and Glen Johnson all found the net, Cardiff missed two of their next three penalties, with Rudy Gestede also hitting the woodwork before Anthony Gerrard's miss proved decisive in handing Liverpool their eighth League Cup.
It means that, 13 months after he returned to the Anfield hotseat,Dalglish becomes only the seventh manager to win all three major competitions in England.
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Liverpool celebrate penalty shoot-out victoryThis triumph was one of the closest of his managerial career - and almost ruined their first visit to Wembley for 16 years.
Liverpool certainly started confidently enough, when Johnson hit the woodwork from their first attack.
After Steven Gerrard surged out of his own half, Johnson bent in a shot which beat Heaton but came back off the underside of the bar, with Gerrard firing the follow-up over.
Cardiff were being pegged back and, with Downing and Jordan Henderson seeing plenty of the ball, Liverpool aimed a succession of crosses towards Andy Carroll.
But, as has so often been the case this season, there was no end product to their attacks, and Cardiff began to find a foothold in the game.
The Bluebirds had already threatened through Miller, who ended a neat passing move by swivelling to blast over from the edge of the box, when Mason put them ahead in the 18th minute.
A poor defensive header by Skrtel was picked up by Kevin McNaughton and, from his pass, Miller set Mason free to power his low shot under the onrushing Reina.
Liverpool's League Cup wins1981 - Beat West Ham 2-11982 - Beat Tottenham 3-11983 - Beat Manchester United 2-11984 - Beat Everton 1-01995 - Beat Bolton 2-12001 - Beat Birmingham 5-4 on penalties2003 - Beat Manchester United 2-02012 - Beat Cardiff 3-2 on penaltiesEven finding themselves trailing unexpectedly did nothing to improve Liverpool's productivity in the final third, however, and Cardiff's defence - expertly marshalled by Mark Hudson - largely kept them at bay.
Frustration was visibly growing among the Liverpool fans, and the biggest surprise when Craig Bellamy came off the bench just before the hour mark was that it had taken Dalglish so long to bring him on.
An equaliser followed almost immediately, although the Welshman had nothing to do with it.
From Downing's corner, Luis Suarez glanced Carroll's header on to the post and Skrtel was first to the rebound, taking a touch before driving the ball between Heaton's legs.
Liverpool continued to drive forward but Cardiff were not about to crumble and had the better chances at the end of the 90 minutes.
Cardiff's exertions began to catch up with them in extra time, with Hudson being forced off by cramp and Liverpool enjoying a flurry of chances.
Heaton tipped Suarez's shot wide and Andrew Taylor had to clear the Uruguayan's header off the line from the resulting corner, while Carroll, Bellamy and Johnson were all narrowly off target with their efforts.
In the 108th minute, Cardiff finally cracked. Kuyt's shot was blocked by Anthony Gerrard, Hudson's replacement, but the ball came back to the Dutchman, who powered the ball past Heaton to put his side ahead.
But that was not the end of a thrilling tale. Kuyt was on hand to clear off the line as Cardiff pushed forward with one last effort and, from the resulting corner, he could not stop Turner bundling the ball home to take the game to penalties.
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DiggFacebookGoogleLinkedInRedditStumbleUponTwitterCopy this link http://www.bbc.com/sport/football/17093419Read more about sharing.Find out more Carling CupRead more on Carling CupFootball League: Carling CupRead more on Football League: Carling CupLiverpoolRead more on LiverpoolCardiff CityRead more on Cardiff CityTop Stories Brilliant Ajax end season with Dutch double15 May From the section European FootballRead more on Brilliant Ajax end season with Dutch double The disputed 'smuggler's haven' ruled by Moldova's 'football Kings'15 May Read more on The disputed 'smuggler's haven' ruled by Moldova's 'football Kings' Alonso unhurt after Indy practice crash15 May From the section MotorsportRead more on Alonso unhurt after Indy practice crashRelated to this story Dalglish hopes for more success26 Feb 2012 Read more on Kenny Dalglish believes Carling Cup win can inspire LiverpoolReds desperate for trophy - Kuyt26 Feb 2012 Read more on Liverpool 'desperate' for Carling Cup win - Dirk KuytMackay a proud man despite defeat26 Feb 2012 Read more on Malky Mackay proud of Cardiff despite Carling Cup final lossSunday football26 Feb 2012 From the section FootballRead more on Sunday footballSunday's football photos26 Feb 2012 From the section FootballRead more on Sunday's football photosReds keen to end trophy drought22 Feb 2012 Read more on Carling Cup: Kenny Dalglish keen to end Liverpool trophy droughtBack to topEFL Cup Scores & FixturesTop ScorersEFL Cup HomeMore from Football All Scores & FixturesAll TeamsLeagues & CupsFootball HomeNews FeedsHelp & FAQsExplore the BBCHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsCBBCCBeebiesFoodBitesizeArtsTasterLocalTVRadioThreeTerms of UseAbout the BBCPrivacy PolicyCookiesAccessibility HelpParental GuidanceContact the BBC

ScottishWelshIrishRugby Union HomeOwen Farrell: Will Carling says England captain needs 'support' from others By Chris Jones
BBC rugby union correspondent
2 Apr From the section Rugby UnionShare this page Share this with
DiggFacebookGoogleLinkedInRedditStumbleUponTwitterCopy this link http://www.bbc.com/sport/rugby-union/47787170Read more about sharing.Owen Farrell (right) faced criticism for his leadership in England's Six Nations draw with ScotlandEngland skipper Owen Farrell will develop into a world-class captain, according to the Rugby Football Union's leadership consultant Will Carling.
Fly-half Farrell is expected to lead England into this year's World Cup despite concerns that his workload is too heavy.
Carling, who captained England to three Grand Slams in the 1990s, says Farrell, 27, needs help from senior players.
"Did Martin Johnson win the World Cup on his own?" he asked on social media.
"Farrell needs help and support from his senior players - and he will get it."
Farrell's leadership credentials were questioned after England's final game of the Six Nations, when they relinquished a 31-0 lead to Scotland before rescuing a 38-38 draw.
Former England stand-off Paul Grayson is among those concerned the Saracen may be overloaded, given he is the team's captain, playmaker and goal-kicker.
But Carling feels Farrell can cope with the pressure and will lean on other experienced players.
Lock Maro Itoje, scrum-half Ben Youngs and fellow number 10 George Ford are among those in England's wider leadership group.
"Why do pundits think leadership and fortunes of a team rest with one man?" continued Carling, who joined Eddie Jones' management team at the end of last year.
"Farrell is a fearsome competitor - a young captain with a real desire to learn and improve.
"I might be biased, but he has all the traits that I would follow.
"The man is a world-class player and just needs time before he is the same as a captain."
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